Heavy snow and rain expected on Southern Interior highways today

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you’re heading out on the highways be prepared for winter driving conditions; heavy snow and rain, along with strong winds, are expected today.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for many highways in the Southern Interior warning of heavy snow, heavy rain and strong winds today, Nov. 17.

Among the highways expected to be hit are the Trans-Canada Highway from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass, the Okanagan Connector, the Coquihalla Highway from Kamloops to Hope, Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton and Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass and even Highway 97 from Clinton to 100 Mile House.

Snow will change to rain on the Coquihalla Highway this morning south of Merritt, where there is already compact snow. The weather office warns it could make for ‘tricky driving conditions’. Strong winds are also expected, which could further reduce visibility. North of Merritt, strong wind gusts of up to 80 kilometres per hour are expected this afternoon. The rain and wind should ease in the evening.

The Okanagan Connector is also expected to be hit by the strong wind gusts, as will Begbie Summit on Highway 97.

About 10 to 15 centimetres of snow this morning will be followed by rain this afternoon on Highway 3, along with strong winds gusting up to 70 km/h. As of 6 a.m. there was nearly 48 cm of snow already on the ground at Allison Pass.

In town we can expect showers today, along with temperatures in the 9 Celsius to 11 C range, well above seasonal normals of 4 C. Snow may fall over higher elevations and strong winds are also expected throughout much of the region.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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